Hairdresser who denied entry to hijab-clad woman in Norway may be jailed

A 47-year-old Norwegian hairdresser who threw a hijab-clad woman out of her salon, saying she did not want “evil” in her establishment, could be sentenced to six months in jail after refusing to pay a fine of 800 pounds.

Malika Bayan, 23, reportedly went to the salon in Bryne in October last year, but was asked to leave because she was wearing a hijab.(Representative Photo)

A 47-year-old Norwegian hairdresser who threw a hijab-clad woman out of her salon, saying she did not want “evil” in her establishment, could be sentenced to six months in jail after refusing to pay a fine of 800 pounds.

Merete Hodne is due to appear in court this week after the incident was reported to the police in October last year.

“Islam is evil. It would have been discriminatory against her other customers if she had not thrown Malika Bayan out of the establishment,” Hodne said.

Malika Bayan, 23, reportedly went to Hodne’s salon in the town of Bryne in October last year to enquire how much it would cost to colour her hair, but Hodne told her to leave, Daily Express reported today.

“It is disturbing that she treats people this way in a free country. Norway is my country. She talks about that Islam is oppressive to women, but it is she who oppress me,” Bayan said.

“Evil is Islam’s ideology, Mohammedanism and the hijab are symbols of this ideology. I’m not afraid to lose but I won’t pay for something that is wrong. I’ll appeal to the court of human rights,” Hodne added.

The hairdresser was initially fined 800 pounds by the police in April for discrimination over the incident, but after refusing to pay, Hodne now faces a court appearance Thursday in the first case of its kind in Norway.

Hodne risks six months in jail if she is found to have discriminated against the Muslim woman.